Improvement in gates



C. AEDGAR. Improvement in Gates.

Patented Sep. 10, 1872.

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Ol ARLES EDGAR, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

vIMPROVEMENT IN GATES.

Specication formingpart of Letters Patent No. 131,25*?, dated Septcmbmer 10, 1872.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

This invention relates to means for hingin g and operating the gate, and also to means for taking up sag or for elevating the latch end of the gate, as may be required. The gate is provided with a diagonal tension-brace furnished with a turn-buckle by which to adjust the same, and the upper hinge is composed, in part, of an eye on the upper end of this brace-rod. The gate is opened and closed by vehicles approaching and leaving the same in either direction by the impact of the wheels with cranks communicating their motion to a vertical crank-rod, by which the gate is thrown out of plumb, and thus unlatched and caused to swing open or shut; but it may be readily opened by hand in either direction, and will close by gravity when released. The crank by which the gate is thrown out of plumb forms a part of one hinge, and is in line with the gate while shut and when open, and the other hinge is correspondingly extended by an arm projecting from the gate. The gate is thus supported in horizontal position when open or closed, and remains out of plumb only during the opening and closing operations.

Descrtptz'oncf the Drawing.

l elevation representing the gate in the act of closing.

General Description.

In carrying ont the invention I employ a hinge-post, A, latch-posts B C, and a gate proper, D, of any approved structure; also, a spring or gravitatin g latch, z, and catches y fr, of any suitable form. The main catch y is applied to the face of the post to admit of opening the gate by hand in either direction, and its rear shoulder is extended so as to arrest the gate when swung shut by the operating mechanism. To strengthen the gate, and especially to sustain the same against sagging, and to take up sag or to elevate the latch end of the gate, as may be required, a diagonal tension brace-rod, w, is employed, the same being adjustable by means of turn-buckle c, and terminating at its upper rear end in an eye, n, to form a part of the upper hinge, which thus supports the gate through said rod. The corresponding part of the lower hinge is an arm, t, and the two hinges are completed by socket-brackets s on the hinge-post, and a vertical pintle-rod, r. This rod r has a crankarm, g, to engage ,with the hinge-eye'n, and is connected by crank-arm p and rods o 'w to wheel-cranks m l, properly arranged in the road on the respective sides of the gate, in usual manner. The crank-arm p of the upper hinge and the rigid hinge-arm t are made of corresponding length, and are both in line with the gate in the open and closed positions of the same, so as to support it in horizontal position.

Operation.

The gate being either shut or opened, as represented in Fig. l, the first action of the crank-rod n, as actuated through either of the wheel-cranks nz l and connecting-rods o n, is to lift the latch end of the gate so as to clear the latch z from the catch a: or y, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The gate then swings shut or open, following the crank-arm q, by'which it is actuated, until it rests in line with said arm and restored to horizontal position at-A tached to the other latch-post B or C. The gate may be opened by hand in either direction, and when released will swing shut.

Should the gate become sagged, or require elevation for any other reason, this may be readily accomplished by means of the turnbuckle n of the tension-brace w.

I am aware that a vertical double-crank pivot-rod has heretofore been employed in combination with a gate, and I therefore lay no claim to such combination 5 but What I do claim as new, and desire to se .cure by Letters Patent, is

Claims.

1. The tension brace-rod fw, made in two parts, and provided with the turn-buckle n and socket n, in combination with the gate D and vertical rod r, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The vertical rod. v turning in sockets in ing the gate to zn horizontal position when the gate-post, and. provided. with a hinge-amm, open or Closed, and operating substantially as q, engaging Wit-11 an eye, u, in the gate, in described.

combination with the arm t and crank-arm p, CHARLES EDGAR. both made of the same length, and both in Witnesses: line with the gate in the open and closed po- OCTAVIUS KNIGHT,

sition of the latter, for the purpose of restor- WALTER ALLEN. 

